Replacing brake lines
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,335
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From: Midwest
Replacing brake lines
this is for my 78 f100 with manual brakes. The rubber line in the back rotted out,so I went to change it. Murphy's law struck again 
and the metal line that connects to the rubber line and goes to the front of the truck twisted in half when I was trying to loosen it. So I need a new metal line. it is about a 5 foot section. can I get this pre-bent somewhere or am I going to have to buy a straight section and bend it myself? I have a generic tube bender that would probably work,but I have no flaring tools to make the flare for the line nuts. thanks for any and all suggestions!!! 
and the metal line that connects to the rubber line and goes to the front of the truck twisted in half when I was trying to loosen it. So I need a new metal line. it is about a 5 foot section. can I get this pre-bent somewhere or am I going to have to buy a straight section and bend it myself? I have a generic tube bender that would probably work,but I have no flaring tools to make the flare for the line nuts. thanks for any and all suggestions!!!
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,230
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From: East Flat Rock NC
One good thing about auto zone is the will loan tools , but have you looked
to see how far the line that runs to the front of the truck really is, if I remember right that line if on a short bed truck it comes from the rubber
line and there is a brake line union, so if you would rather just replace it, it not very long!
P.S line wenches would pervent this in the furture, and if it has'nt happen
to most people, they have not worked on old truck and cars!
to see how far the line that runs to the front of the truck really is, if I remember right that line if on a short bed truck it comes from the rubber
line and there is a brake line union, so if you would rather just replace it, it not very long!
P.S line wenches would pervent this in the furture, and if it has'nt happen
to most people, they have not worked on old truck and cars!
Last edited by Pro-Street/StateTK; Jun 21, 2005 at 07:32 PM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: clementsport canada
just replace the line. normal for something of this age. line wrenches will not solve this problem. over the years, rust has formed between the steel line, and the nut, seizing them together. when you try to unscrew the nut, you twist the line off. normal up here in salt country
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Midwest
thanks for the ideas....theonlybull hit it on the head. the nut loosened fine,but the line was siezed inside the nut,and the line twisted as I was turning the nut. I will need 5 foof of line,that is where the union is
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 380
Likes: 1
From: Meriden USA
You'll probaly have to bend the line up to what you want. Its not that hard though and chances are you wont need to flare them again. Next time try turning the nut back and forth and LIGHTLY tap on the line. Somtimes this breaks the rust free.
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Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
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The candle trick listed in the Garage forum works on those frozen lines. I have used it successfully several times on a variety of lines. You just have to warm it up enough to melt wax which is not much.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 213
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From: Port Coquitlam, BC Canada
I just did my line from the rubber to the union, but my long wheelbase meant I could not get a premade line that long, so I put two in with another union.
I will have to remember that wax trick, as I have come to expect them to twist off no matter what I have tried.
I will have to remember that wax trick, as I have come to expect them to twist off no matter what I have tried.
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